My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord, or loathe His reproof. For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12
One of the surest signs that you are maturing in the Lord and gaining wisdom is by seeing how you are resounding to discipline and correction in your life. Correction is something no one takes easily. First of all it requires that we admit that we are wrong. This requires humility. This is a character trait that is not abounding in our lives since the fall. This is why we are told here not to reject the discipline of God. We are told this because we are likely to just reject discipline automatically. One of the most important lessons I ever received from the man who disciples me was that I needed to consider it kindness when a godly man rebuked me. He taught me to take a moment and consider what was said to me rather than just rejecting it out of hand. Some of the best lessons I've ever learned were due to the rebuke of a godly person who loved me enough to speak the truth to me when I needed it most. We are also told here not to loathe God's reproof. The only reason I loathe reproof is because of the pride in my heart that makes me think I am always right. You would think I would be delighted for God, Who cannot err, to correct me and keep me from making mistakes that could harm me. Unfortunately I annuli fled with pride and foolishness to listen to Him and actually choose being wrong rather than admitting to my error and learning from Him. Solomon has the wisdom here to appeal to his son from a human standpoint. He tells his own son that God reproves and disciplines those He loves. ThenLord doesn't discipline us out of some power trip. He does this because He loves us. Remember that the next time you are being disciplined. God is working this way in your life because He loves you. This verse it quoted in Hebrews 12 and we are informed that God is disciplining us because He wants us to share in His holiness. God is incapable of acting wrongly and therefore we need to see that even His discipline is for our ultimate good. The final words that Solomon offers to his son are supposed to remind him that earthly fathers discipline thir sons because they delight in them. A father looks at his son and sees the potential of what he catn be. As he disciplines the child, it is only in hope of what his child can become if he ultimately follows the Lord with all of His heart. The father takes delight in his son or daughter as he or she walks with the Lord. Disciplne and correction is the way of life itself. If we learn how to receive it from God and from those He sends to us we will be blessed greatly. So learn to receive discipline and correction, especially from God. He loves you and only is working toward your best interests when He does.
2 Comments
A fool rejects his father's discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible. Proverbs 15:5
Why is it so important for a child to learn to submit himself and learn from his parents - especially a son from his father? First, we need to learn from this relationship because we will be dealing with authority all the days of our lives. I love the story of the son who, rebelling against his father's authority says, "I don't have to live under this kind of dictatorial authority, I'm joining the Marines!" Believe me when I say that when we don't learn under the authority that God has in our lives - the Lord is very willing to up the ante on our next authority figure. The second reason we need to learn to live under authority - especially with our fathers is because that relationship more than any other is suppose to parallel that between a man and his God. Only a fool rejects his father's discipline. He looks at his father's rules and boundaries for his life with contempt. He spurns them and rejects them outright. He comes to despise the role his father is supposed to play in his life. Interesting to note here is the fact that this same word is used for blasphemy elsewhere in the Old Testament. Fancy that now - the same term that is used to describe the rebellion of a son to his father - is the same one used to describe the rebellion of a creation to his Creator. The reason we need so desperately to learn how to deal with discpline and correction is because this is the way of life. Proverbs tells us elsewhere that reproofs for discpiline are the way of life. We are rebels by nature - and by choice when that nature kicks into full gear. The better we learn how to deal with disicpline and reproof - the better suited we are when the Holy Spirit comes to bring conviction of our sin so that we can respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The one who "regards" reproof is called sensible. The word for "regard" here is our old friend "shamar" which means to watch out for something - to attend to it, to be careful to keep something and watch over it. This word has the idea of diligence and watchfulness over what is said in reproof to us. We listen and regard rather than reject what is said. Oh the lessons that we could learn - and the pain and suffering that we could avoid in life if we would just listen to those who offer us reproof. It is the sensible thing to do. It is wise and prudent to listen to those who can offer us reproof and instruction on how to do things better. It is wise to listen to those who see our mistakes and who desire for us to take a fork in the road so that we don't go the wrong way. It is prudent to listen to those who've been where we have not - who've experienced shame and disgrace because of choices we are about to make. That is why we need desperately to learn how to handle loving reproof - and even outright rebuke. God knows that this is truly the way of life - and the way to avoid great sin and sorrow. Listen to your fathers - and learn from them. This will be a lesson that will be repeated often as others who will serve as father-figures offer additional advice and counsel that can bless your life. If you learn to listen now - while a child - oh, what blessings are in store for you from that one lesson later in life. He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Proverbs 9:7
There are certain people who you just cannot correct or reprove. They will not receive it. But there is a category of folks who will not receive it and then will verbally attack instead. That is the person who is described in this verse of Proverbs. The first thing we see here is the action of the one wanting to help. I know that at times when someone offers correction and reproof we might think that they are being annoying or that they're being a nitpicker. Truth is that it is a kind and loving thing to have someone correct you when you are sinning. It is a lack of love or fear that makes us not offer loving correction when it is needed. (Just a word of caution here though - if you seem to always be offering correction - remember this - Paul offered a great deal of praise too. Proverbs tells us that we catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Paul actually started each of his letters with praise for those to whom he was writing. Therefore we need to balance correction with a healthy dose of prasie and encouragement) The one offering correction is offering a form of discipline. We are being disciplined so that we live according to how God wants us to live and how He wants us to react to life itself each day. This word also has an aspect of teaching and warning in it. Often our correction needs a touch of teaching. We may know the way to go - but remember in our society that there are many who have not had great biblical parenting and who really DON'T KNOW the teaching we do. We might want to start with gentle, loving instruction to begin the process of correction. The second word used for this correction is "to reprove." This is a pretty cool word because with it is the idea of arguing to convince someone. We are wanting to reprove - but often that means convincing someone of the truth of what we are saying - or more importantly the truth of God's Word on the matter. It has the idea also of convicting and judging an action - not in a condemning way - but rather to help soemone make a clarification as to the moral choices that they are making. Too often we see these two words - correction and reproof as negative words. We see them described in too harshly - rather than in the context of teaching, training, and offering the kind of loving instruction people need to grow spiritually. If we began to see these things in the context mentioned here - we might embrace them as a way of living and a way of encouraging one another. Now the problem arises for the one offering correction and reproof. First, they are trying to correct a scoffer. The scoffer is the one who laughs at the things of God. They mock at the commandments and morals that God puts forth. They hate God and think the purity of His ways and teachings is nothing more than unwarranted restrictions on people who are free to do as they want. Therefore they heap dishonor on the one offering the correction. They consider it a disgrace to be spoken to in this way - a sign of their incredible pride and arrogance. The reprover gets it worse - we are told he gets insults. The word here pictures someone being put on display so that they are scorned and mocked. When this happens - the result is that they are dishonored - but more than this, the words are meant to ruin, to shame, and to drop the person in the minds and thoughts of all who hear the insults. All this for trying to offer teaching and instruction from God's Word that will ultimately help this person. Here is the wisdom that you need to receive today. I don't think the Lord is wanting us to read this and decide to remove the whole correction and reproof thing from our lives. There are too many instances when the Lord had His people speak the truth even though it got them insulted for it. When you think of it - that is what happened to Jesus again and again. Yet the Lord did not have Jesus step back from the truth and tone it down when it came to speaking the truth to the world. But . . . we do need to know what we are getting into when we speak the truth. We may be insulted - we may be dishonored. It is not a high and lofty position in men's eyes to be one who speaks the truth of God. Often it is a position of shame and disgrace. You do get insults for yourself - and you are treated with contempt by this world and its inhabitants. So why should we speak the truth? Because God calls us to speak it in love. Because without it this world is doomed beyond imagination. Because when we do so - we become like our Teacher - the Lord Jesus Christ. He unswervingly spoke the truth to the glory of God. It may have cost him in the eyes of men - but it was to the everlasting praise of God and good for mankind that He did. Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, Proverbs 4:1
Today I listened again to a radio commercial that bashed fathers as being ignorant, disobedient, deceptive, and untrustworthy. The children were painted as smarter and more morally astute than their dad - who was represented, as usual, as a buffoon. Some of this treatment is deserved, because too many men are very self-centered and self-absorbed. They don't really offer much to their families in the way of moral training or moral direction. They are the buffoon who sits on the couch after a day of work - beckoning for more beer as they watch television - usually sporting events which now run nonstop on the various ESPN channels. But this is not how things are supposed to be - Scripture has a different model for us to follow. "Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father . . . " Here is where things are radically different in the way of biblical instruction. The father is the one calling to the sons and daughters - and he calls with a desire to offer valuable "instruction" to them. This word instruction acutally means to discipline, chasten, correct, warn, and instruct. This is not your garden variety "Father Knows Best" talks - this is serious stuff! This dad is not merely trying to teach his children something - he is committed to doing it even if it means that chastisement and correction are involved. Here is a dad that seriously wants his children to walk in the ways of wisdom. He desires for his kids to follow the Lord. Any man who desires this knows that it will mean discipline and correction will be necessary. Children don't just go in the right direction automatically. In fact, because of the fall of man, you can be assured that they will NOT follow God as a natural course of living. They will need to be taught God's ways - and they will also need to be disciplined and chastised so that they learn to reject their flesh and embrace wisdom. Do not let us be like Eli, who offered a half-hearted rebuke to his sons. We need to correct and train for righteousness - preparing our children for the ultimate teacher, the Holy Spirit, to convict and bring them to the Savior. The godly father also commands his children's attention in these matters. This is not something we can forgoe in life - it is a matter of life and death for our children. We must call them to listen and to know and understand as a result of what we do in disciplining them. It is only this way that they will get the discernment and truth that they will need to walk with God and follow as they should in His way. Far from being the local buffoon, the man of God is called to a high calling. He is called to direct and discipline his children in the ways of the Lord. To do this will require us to give ourselves to the Lord and His ways. It will require us to reject the image of men in today's society - ignore the insults and caricatures of weak men - and instead forge ahead in the way God would have us live. It is my hope that from examples like this - people would see men - see fathers as indispensable to a goodly society that knows the right and rejects the wrong. Because whether our soceity knows it or not - they are absolutely vital to its success! A wise son accepts his father's discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. Proverbs 13:1
Ours is a soceity where fathers are abandoning their biblical position. The result is a soceity where things are unfortunately falling apart at an alarming rate. What is even more alarming is how badly the biblical portrait of fatherhood is under attack by the entertainment, educational, and political elite of our day. There are many who think a man's usefulness is at its maximum shortly after the conception of a child. The Bible knows no such view. This proverb is actually addressed to sons who desire to be wise. The wise son is the one who listens to his father's disciplinary words and ideas. The word for discipline here is "musar" and it means to discipline throuh instruction. It is when a father speaks with his son in correction of his attitudes and actions. This is something that is desperately needed for a child. Foolishness is bound up within his heart - and something and someone must address the wrong thinking that the child has - and will destroy the child if left alone. The father is to offer these words of rebuke and correction. That means that the view that we are naturally good is false. We are not naturally good. The Bible teaches that we are fallen and are given over to a worldly wisdom that is very destructive. Thus we need a godly father to speak the truth to us and to encourage us toward the ways of God. The son who does not listen to this helpful rebuke, is called a "scoffer." This is an interesting Word. It means to scorn, deride, and mock another. Here it speaks of how the son does not honor the father or his instruction. He won't listen to rebuke or correction. He mocks it instead - thinking that the things his father says to him will not happen - nor will his own actions bring any kind of difficulty. Yet, the truth is that when a godly father's instruction is ingored and mocked - the son is in for a bumpy road filled with grief and problems. A father's instruction is invaluable to a son or daughter. Do not ignore it - or mock it. It is god's way of offering to the next generation the wisdom it needs to prosper and be blessed. Keep it and the blessing with be yours - ignore it only at your own peril. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid. Proverbs 12:1
I've grown up being taught that the word stupid is not a very nice word. It is one that my parents encouraged me to avoid. So when the living God refers to someone as "stupid" it is a verse that catches my attention. What is it that makes God call someone stupid? The stupid man is the one who hates to be reproved and corrected. He bristles when someone offers rebuke. He does not like it when someone corrects him when he is wrong. This is what makes him stupid, because by nature we are fallen - and by nature we are born ignorant. The only way to remedy this situation is for us to be corrected by God and corrected by others. Any discipline in life is to turn us from the wrong and toward the right. Those who love us discipline us, because they know that such discipline directs us away from wickedness and toward righteousness. Discipline by its very nature is not pleasant - and that is why the Lord doesn't tell us that we always have to be happy about it. But when we move from finding it unpleasant but necessary - to - hating it and despising those who offer it - then we move to dangerous territory. Wisdom has us embrace discipline and reproof. Proverbs tells us that this is the way of life - the way things work - and the way to move from foolish actions to wise ones. We are told here to love discipline. To appreciate it for what it is - instruction that keeps us from problems - keeps us from ungodly patterns and habits in our lives. Those patterns and habits yield destruction and death. Thus we need to learn to embrace discipline because when we learn from it - we receive what Hebrews calls, 'The peacable fruit of righteousness." We learn what is right and we hold fast what is right when we learn from correction. Otherwise we just become entrenched in our wrong - in error - and in ways that are displeasing to the Lord. Stupid is not a great word to use every day - or a good name to call someone. Yet, God in His wisdom lets us know that when we hate the correction and reproof that will lead us to a godly life - we are being nothing less than stupid! "Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:23
Can a person truly walk in wisdom if all they ever want in life are positive, uplifting messages from God? There are those today who say that the church should not be negative - should not issue rebukes, corrections, and most of all should not dwell on the whole issue of sin. "Let's be positive," is their cry - and when we are, people will come back to the church! There is a fundamental problem with this view of things. It completely ignores that whole, "fall of mankind" thing. The reason Christianity cannot be "all positive, all the time" is because man is a fallen creature given to rebellion and walking in ways that are destructive and damning. At some point the honest among us are going to have to address the fundamental flaw in human nature. If men were naturally disposed to honoring and glorifying God, this would not be necessary. But the facts are that the heart is deceitful and desperately sick - that there is none who have done good, not even one - and that unless we repent we will all likewise perish. Man is not a naturally wise creature - unless you count being wise in his own eyes. Wisdom is personified in Proverbs quite often. Wisdom shouts in the streets, calls out in the square seeking to get our attention. What does she say? Her first words are not exactly positive. She calls mankind "naive ones" as well as "simple-minded." She refers to the inhabitants of this globe as "scoffers" and "fools." The reason this does not sound positive is because it isn't. The Bible is not into any kind of a positive confession type of tripe - instead it is honest about the condition of man. As a result, her first command is issued here in verse 23. Turn to my repoof. That is her first command to mankind. If we are going to be wise, it will require us to turn from our present selfish and self-centered ways and turn to the reproof of true wisdom. Wisdom will require reproof - correction - rebuke. We need to grasp that our current fleshly thinking is foolish and stupid. Wisdom will not enter our hearts unless we first unseat the poser who sits there presently. That is us. We need to lay aside human wisdom and that which parades as understanding - and choose to conform our thinking to God's ways and paths. Here is a truth that will help you gain wisdom every day. Say it to yourself several times before you leave your home for the day. "If I disagree with God's Word, I am wrong!" Wisdom calls to us and tells us that something wonderful awaits those who accept reproof. But the person who in pride refuses to admit that he is wrong - that person will remain mired in the foolishness of his own ways. What happens when we turn to God's reproof? Here is something wonderful! He pours out His Spirit upon us. Did you know that the Holy Spirit is the personification of wisdom! He wants us to turn from foolishness - so He can be poured out upon us - and so that He can teach us. Each time we turn from self and the wisdom of this world, the Holy Spirit is waiting to make known God's words to us. Here is a shocker - wisdom is found when the God's Spirit is poured out on us and we come to know the Word of God. In that moment we know wisdom. The way of wisdom is the way of correction and reproof. We cannot become wise until we embrace humility. We cannot become wise until we respect and honor God's Word above all other sources of truth. We cannot become wise unless God in His mercy pours out His Spirit and opens our minds to the truth of His words. When this happens, we'll know the truth - and see that truth corrects us and turns us to the right thinking and the right path. The path to wisdom may not start positive - but when the Spirit of God begins to reveal truth and wisdom to us - it surely ends positive. Be open to God's reproof - to His correction - knowing that when we turn to Him - an abundance of truth and righteousness will be our reward. Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6
It should not suprise us that in the midst of the wisdom of the ages we find a statement as to the trustworthiness of the Word of God. That is wisdom indeed - that we can trust God's Word because it is tested. We learn that it is a shield for those who need refuge. It is a word we are not to add to or subtract from. And it is a Word that God will protect to the point of proving that all who add to it are liars. A TESTED Word - The first thing we are told is that every Word of God is tested. There is an interesting start. Every means the whole of something - all of it. Each and every word that makes up God's revelation of Himself is tested. Those who mock the thought that we can trust every word in God's word need to realize that such a statement is not just made by theologians - but by God's Word itself. The idea of these words being tested refers to the smeltin process of silver or gold. The smelting is done by exposing these metals to heat - intense heat - and those bringing out all the impurities in them. What is left over is pure gold or silver. God's Word has been thoroughly tested and purified so that what we have is reliable - it is the smelted pure gold - and we can trust its purity. A SHIELD - This word serves as a shield to those who take refuge in God. Here we see that God's Word is equated with God Himself. Of course this should not shock us because what a person says ought to be true of the person. What a good reminder though that God is good for every word He speaks. A wise man would note this and look to God's Word for the ultimate promises in his or her life. ADDING TO GOD'S WORD - Don't add to God's Word is the warning given here. Yet there are myriad people and groups who have tried. Before turning the cults, first we need to see that individually we can add to God's Word. If we do not know it well, we can take our own personal desires and impose them upon the Lord. We can also go for years thinking that God has said something - and only be mistaken because of personal ignorance of the Word. Regardless of the reason - any personal addition to God's Word is strictly forbidden. There are also groups who add to God's Word. The Mormons have done so by adding the Book of Mormon to it. The Jehovah's Witness group has mistranslated it, and in so doing have built an entire doctrine around denying the deity of Jesus Christ. Numerous other groups have proven foolish doing these same things only to be proven false when we examine the truth. The destruction that faces those who do such things and who adhere to such things is beyond our comprehension, for many will only become aware of their error in the judgment. PROVEN A LIAR - Those who decide to add to God's Word will have the unfortunate position of being proven liars. God promises personally to reprove those who do this. The Word used here for reprove has a legal sense to it - that the person will find a case against them - one with a judgment as well. There is also a sense in which this is a personal reproof - a rebuke. The judgment that will be rendered to those who add to God's Word is that of being a liar - a proven liar. We consider such words strong indeed. Yet God does not take lightly to those who would add to His Word their own thoughts and ideas. It is important to have somethign upon which to found our lives. There needs to be some kind of bedrock document - some truth upon which our lives can be built. The philosophies of our day disdain such truth - or at least disdain that there is a universal truth upon which all men can base their lives. Instead they hold to an individual truth which all men can hold simultaneously in their hearts - even if their truths radically contradict one another. Yet, in spite of all the volumes written and all the speeches given - their truths still stand as the lies of rebellious men who think they know better than God. God's truth has stood throughout time as THE TRUTH. It has stood, will stand, and will be the very basis upon which the ultimate judgment shall be rendered. When looked at in that light we can see the wisdom in holding fast to God's words as they have been given to us. To do otherwise would simply to be to add our name to the list of liars who will be proven wrong throughout history and who, if not in the immediate - in the ultimate - will be shown to be those who misrepresent the truth. A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy. Proverbs 29:1
Stiff-necked . . . now there is a term you don't hear too much any longer. Yet, it would be wise for us to avoid being stiff-necked - especially when it comes to how we receive correction and reproof from others - and from God. The "hardened-neck" is the one that is stiff, and it also has the idea of being severe or fierce. Thus the hardening is very decided. When a man hardens his neck - he is doing so with quite the attitude. Zhodiates brings out that this means someone who is harsh with anger - cruel - stiff-necked. This is a difficult person - stubborn and hardened and filled with resentment toward the one offering the reproof. The reproof is not just criticism. It is also not just a one time statement. The proverb says "after much reproof." There are those who are offering the needed rebuke and correction - and when they offer it - they are offering A LOT of it. But - from the previous word - it is clear that the one receiving it is not interested in hearing it. Suddenly speaks of something that happens all at once - there is an aspect to this that is shocking. The promise of the proverb is not for a slow decline - but for a sudden moment of retribution from the Lord. The one who receives this "sudden" consequences is broken. Broken is "shabar" means to break in pieces - and also has the idea of being abolished, crushed, demolished, destroyed, smashed, shattered, or torn down. This is a devastating breaking from God. What is worse is this breaking is described as bein beyond remedy - literally "no healing or cure" - This is something that is not recoverable. When I consider this, it makes me fear pride and arrogance. It also makes me want to turn from areas where I am receiving much instruction - and much rebuke - and turn to the Lord with a humility and brokenness that is self-imposed. Actually, it makes me want to turn in any area where I'm receiving correction - why wait until it becomes "much" reproof - respond now. Oh to have the brokenness that comes from the Lord as a gift - the broken and contrite heart that He gives as a loving gift to His children - rather than the brokenness that comes as a horrific retribution when we resist Him and those who are sent of Him to correct and train us in righteousness. Learn to receive correction and reproof as good friends - friends who only want us to avoid the breaking that comes with arrogance and self-centered thinking that rejects comments not meant to hurt - but meant to protect us from a stiff neck and its consequences. |
Proverb a DayEach day, we'll take a look at a verse from the chapter of Proverbs for the day. Our hope is to gain wisdom each day - and from that wisdom - to have understanding to make godly decisions in the throes of everyday life. Thank you for visiting our website! Everything on this site is offered for free. If, however, you would like to make a donation to help pay for its continued presence on the internet, you can do that by clicking here. The only thing we ask is that you give first to the local church you attend. Thank you!
Archives
August 2018
Copyright 2024 Calvary Chapel Jonesboro | all rights reserved |